NEWPORT NEWS - Harriet Smith Powell passed away from Alzheimer's disease on July 10, 2011. Harriet was born in Alderson, W.Va., on May 22, 1927, the daughter of Cornelia Alderson and Harry Lee Smith. She was educated in the Alderson schools and graduated from Westhampton College at The University of Richmond in 1949. She then taught at the Junior High School level at schools in Phoebus, and Richmond, Va. Harriet later attended graduate school at the University of Virginia, graduating with a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling. She was a Guidance Counselor in Varina High School in Henrico County, Va., for several years.

It was in Richmond that she met and married her husband of 52 years, Dr Douglas O. Powell. They lived in Richmond until the summer of 1960, then spent two years in the United States Air Force in Rantoul, Ill., after which they settled in Newport News. They are the parents of three daughters, Martha Virginia, Julia Coleman and Anne Alderson.

Harriet was most recently a member of The Hidenwood Presbyterian Church. However, for many years Harriet was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Newport News, serving in leadership positions in The Women of the Church, as a Deacon, and as Church Treasurer. She also served as Co-President of the Newport News Medical Society Auxiliary.

Harriet loved to travel. She and Doug enjoyed many wonderful trips. Her sense of adventure enabled her to learn to snow ski in her late forties and the family enjoyed many ski vacations, including those with the Navigator Ski Club. For many years, Harriet played golf with the Ladies 9 Hole group at the James River Country Club. She was also an accomplished seamstress and loved making clothes and costumes as well as draperies and home furnishings for her family. There is little doubt that Harriet's favorite activity was bridge. She grew up in a home where Bridge was a family favorite and often included cousins and other extended family. Through the years, Harriet was a member of several local ladies bridge clubs; the last of which were the Monthly Wednesday and the Monthly Thursday groups. Both groups were very kind and supportive to Harriet as her health began to fail. At the age of 52, Harriet was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, but thanks to excellent local treatment, she was a 30-year survivor.

In addition to her husband, Harriet is survived by her three daughters and their families, Martha and Bryan Krepps, Coleman, Anne and Powell of Griffin, Ga., Julia and Bill Musto, Charlie and Alderson of Sterling, V., and Anne Powell of Newport News; her sister, Florence Smith McCarthy of Huntington, W.Va.; and two nephews, Tom and Sherry McCarthy of Lakeland, Fla., and Harry and Laurie McCarthy of Yorktown, Va.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on July 13, 2011, at Hidenwood Presbyterian Church in Newport News. The family will receive friends at a reception at the James River Country Club following the service. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service.

Donations can be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 E. 56th St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022; or The Peninsula Rescue Mission, 3700 Huntington Ave, Newport News, VA 23607.
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.

Source: Dailypress.com